Authors: Trina M Lee
At such an early hour, the traffic passing by the club to go downtown was scarce. It wouldn’t pick up for a while yet. Every time I heard a vehicle, I glanced up expectantly, looking for Shaz’ car. He would be arriving any moment with Kylarai, Zak and Julian. Arys had left an hour before dawn but not before making me promise to maintain an open mental link with him until I was finished with Maxwell and Claire. I was confident that we would take them down. It might not play out the way I envisioned, but it was going to happen.
Sitting in the middle of the salt circle, Brogan pulled four blue candles from her bag and arranged them around her at the north, east, south and west points. She placed a goblet of water before her. Taking a stick of jasmine incense from her bag, she glanced at me expectantly.
“I’ll need that hair now. And, as much quiet as possible. Do you think they’ll be here soon?”
“Any minute now. We can wait so they don’t disturb you.” I pulled my wallet out of the back pocket of my jeans and retrieved the auburn strands of Claire’s hair. I’d taken extra care not to lose it.
“I’d rather do it now, before they get here. I’m not quite as good at this as my mother is. Was.” Brogan’s face fell, but she quickly hid the emotion that I could sense building within her. “Anyway, I need to concentrate. The fewer people here, the better.”
“No problem. I’ll give you some space and tell them not to arrive yet.”
Crossing to the opposite end of the parking lot, I perched on the hood of Kale’s car and sent a text message to Kylarai telling them not to come until I got back to them. Then I reclined against the Camaro’s windshield and watched Brogan work the spell.
I couldn’t help it when my mind strayed back to Kale, so close but so far. Was he thinking of me, too? Did I really want the answer to that? I could just imagine his reaction if he knew I was reclined on his prized possession with thoughts of him swirling in my head. I owed him an explanation and an apology. It wasn’t going to come easy.
A cool wind picked up suddenly, ruffling my hair. Brogan sat in a meditative state, her lips moving fast. I could only catch bits of what she said. None of it was in English. The candle flames flickered and the scent of jasmine carried to me on the breeze. With eyes closed, she dropped Claire’s hair into the goblet and stirred it with a finger in a clockwise motion.
Brogan’s blond hair lifted gently as the wind whipped around her. Goosebumps rose up on my skin in response to the power she called. It felt pure, earthy, but strong. She was underestimating herself if she didn’t think she was as good as Lena. I was willing to bet otherwise.
I was intrigued by the power a skilled witch could call. It was not unlike my own. However, the manner in which they accessed it was much different.
Watching Brogan reminded me of all the times I’d done the same thing with her mother. I hadn’t let myself truly feel Lena’s loss. It was too hard. But, it would come. It had to. I didn’t want to let her go. Though it wouldn’t bring her back, today there would be retribution for what had happened to her.
A satisfied but sad smile crossed Brogan’s dainty features, and her eyes snapped open. Motioning me over, she called, “I’ve got a location.”
Hopping off Kale’s car, I almost skipped over to her. The wolf inside me was readying for a fight. I was almost excited.
“You were right.” Brogan began blowing out the candles before extinguishing the stick of incense. “They moved pretty far from the last address you had for them. They’re on the outskirts of town, a farmhouse to the east. I’m coming with you.”
I paused during the text I was typing to Ky. “Um, no way. I can’t risk you, Brogan. Your mother would never be cool with that.”
“Well, she’s not here, and these are the people who killed her. You have to let me come. Would you have it any other way if you were in my position?” Her jaw was hard set, and a challenge was in her eyes. “I know they’re dangerous, Alexa. I’m not powerless. I’ll let you call the shots. Just … let me be your backup.”
I finished typing the text before answering. I was torn. I would refuse to be left behind if I were her. She did have power. It’s not like she’d be defenseless.
Shit.
“Fine. But, you follow my lead, and don’t you dare get yourself killed. This is completely against my better judgment.”
She nodded solemnly, but there was a glimmer of light in her small smile. “Thank you.”
It wasn’t long before Shaz’ car turned into the lot. A small thrill of anticipation shot through me. It wouldn’t be long now. Any remaining doubt I’d had was fading fast.
For a moment, I felt heavy discomfort when Shaz stepped out of the car. I swallowed hard and pushed the negative thoughts aside. Whatever was up with him, with us, it was irrelevant right now. It had to be if I was going to stay focused.
Much of the awkward apprehension slipped away when he pulled me into his arms as if nothing had ever happened. Was I making it out to be more than it was? If he could put it aside, then I could do the same.
“Are you ready to do this?” His jade orbs shone with enthusiasm. He was eager for this.
“I think so.” I glanced over at his car where the others waited. “How’s Julian? He’s not going to be a liability is he?”
With a shake of his blond head, Shaz grinned. “Not on my watch.”
“Then let’s go.”
* * * *
Brogan had been right about the farmhouse. The evidence of the death of the occupants verified that our vampires were inside. The sun shone down brightly, trapping them effectively. The golden light stung my eyes but, otherwise, didn’t harm me.
We had to drive two cars to fit everyone. It was also safer, in case some of us didn’t make it out, the others could still leave. If Maxwell was as clever as I thought he was, he would know we were coming for him. He’d be ready. Yet, he wasn’t smart enough to skip town. Typical.
With the Dragon Claw in hand, I faced the four wolves that sat ready and keen before me. Both Shaz and Julian wore matching expressions. They were looking forward to this. Somehow, I didn’t entirely find that reassuring. Their eagerness to kill vampires was helpful for the current fight but alarming in its implications. There was no love lost between vampires and werewolves.
“You guys know the drill. Don’t leave anyone alive, and don’t give them a chance to fight back if you can help it, especially the male with the power. He’s extremely dangerous. But, if you can incapacitate him without dusting him, leave him alive. I have a few questions for him.”
I had nothing more to say. We had three vampires to kill, one who was deadly. Hesitating would weaken us. It was time to do this.
I could feel Arys in my head, observing the only way he could. He was thankfully quiet, allowing me the illusion of being alone with my thoughts. Knowing he was there enhanced my concentration; I would think of nothing while he was in my head but the task at hand.
Striding up to the front door of the old but well-kept farmhouse, I kicked the door open. I wasn’t surprised by the angry swarm of energy that greeted me. I was ready for the attack. Drawing on my bond with Arys, I absorbed what I could of the blast and deflected the rest.
I paused in the doorway, the dagger in one hand and a psi ball in the other. The windows had been boarded up haphazardly, preventing the light from penetrating the interior of the house. Maxwell stood in the open foyer right in front of me, his face absent of any real expression. I couldn’t see either Claire or their remaining vampire lackey yet.
The wolves swept past me, two on either side. The sound of snarls and growls quickly filled the eerie silence. Both Shaz and Julian lunged at Maxwell who quickly lashed out at them with a blast of power which I intercepted with my own. The two wolves almost collided in their frenzy to get to him. He was fast, moving to avoid them in a smooth motion that left them scrambling to regain their footing.
“I knew you’d come. I didn’t think it would be so soon after we broke you though.” Maxwell smirked and pulled his power tight to him, forming a circle.
From deeper in the house a scream rang out as Zak and Kylarai found Claire. She wouldn’t stand a chance. Brogan hung back near the door, but I could feel her readiness.
Something told me that the Dragon Claw would cut through Maxwell’s barrier as if it wasn’t even there. It would be over too fast. Perhaps it was stupid to hold out, but I didn’t want him dust, not yet. Not until I could get some answers from him regarding Arys’ little secret, something Arys wasn’t going to be happy about.
“Is that what that was all about? You didn’t break me, asshole. Not even close.” This was already going better than I’d hoped. With Maxwell trapped inside his own circle, he wasn’t much of a threat.
I advanced on him, testing the dagger by swiping it boldly through his bubble. It dispersed immediately. The shock that adorned Maxwell’s face was priceless. Grabbing him by the throat, I threw him up against the foyer wall so hard the windows in the house rattled.
Shaz paced close by. I saw no sign of Julian though the sound of conflict reached me from the back of the house. A series of snarls and snapping jaws were followed by a yelp I recognized as Kylarai. I fought hard to tune it out. Losing my focus would put us all in greater danger.
Maxwell pushed against me with fiery hot power that burned. I smiled because this time I was ready, and I knew I could take him. The direct connection to Arys infused me with enough power to knock me breathless. It burst through me from head to toe, using me as a living vessel to channel it. I wasn’t sure how much I could take before it overwhelmed my mortal form, but I guessed I’d find out.
I pressed the dagger to Maxwell’s throat, careful not to let the blade bite into his flesh. Not yet. “Ready to do a little talking, pal?”
“Screw you, wolf.” He was putting on a tough front, but the heavy sense of apprehension slowly trickled from him.
“I have questions, and you have answers. Play along, and I’ll kill you fast. If not, I can really drag this out.”
A strained cackle poured forth from Maxwell. “We’ll have plenty of time to play twenty questions during the trip back to Vegas. Still not willing to make this easy on yourself? I told you. Help me get what I want, and then I let you go.”
“I’m not an item to be bargained with. Especially for power and prestige you don’t have the balls to earn on your own. If anyone deserves Harley’s place, it’s me. I want to know about Arys. Tell me why you said I was the one he’s been waiting for. What does that mean?”
‘Alexa.’ Arys’ tense silence was shattered by the vicious warning in the back of my mind.
Intrigue swam in Maxwell’s inky gaze. “Let me go, and we can talk this out like the professionals we are. I’m sure we can strike a deal of some kind.”
“The only deal on the table is how fast I kill you.” I snapped, baring fangs at him. Instinct demanded I kill him. Small talk and bargaining was for vampires. I was wolf, and I wanted his death.
“What’s wrong, Alexa? Is Arys keeping secrets from you?” A gloating grin lit up Maxwell’s pinched features. “Help me get what I want, and I’ll tell you anything I know.”
Infuriated by his cocky attitude, I slammed my power through him. He grunted, stiffening as it burned within his core. I felt his sudden alarm as he tried to grasp my power and strip it from me. That wasn’t going to work this time. I was prepared for that.
I lashed out at him again, forcing him to go into defense mode. As long as he was focused on protecting himself, he wouldn’t have adequate strength to take me down. I followed up with a knee to the groin. Cheap shot? Maybe. Effective? Yes.
He grunted, and a small whimper escaped him. “Look bitch, this is bullshit. I’m not going to trade blows with you. If you’re going to kill me, then do it.”
“So you’re only content to beat me and torture my mate? If I fight back, you lose interest? That’s fucking pathetic.”
“I didn’t come here to torture anybody. What can I say? One thing led to another.” His expression grew cold, and he regarded me with hate shining in his eyes.
The dagger blade was dangerously close to piercing the skin of his throat. Part of me wanted to take his head off. Maybe it wasn’t worth it to attempt to get information from him. Maybe this was a confrontation better reserved for Arys.
“Last chance to tell me something I want to hear.” My hand shook in my effort to keep from slicing into him.
“Would that help? If I tell you that Arys knew you were out there somewhere, his metaphysical other half. That he was informed of your coming over a hundred years ago? And what it would mean for him? Would a little elaboration make you willing to give me what I want?”